As devoted pet owners, we frequently find ourselves facing uncharted territories when our greatest friend encounters life-altering circumstances. When your first bring home a pet with mobility issues, there are a lot of unknowns and unexpected challenges. In this text, we’ll explore the essential elements of caring for a paralyzed pet, and highlight a few unexpected things, that it’s possible you’ll feel unprepared for. Including, making needed home adjustments to understanding the unique bathroom needs of a paralyzed dog. Through expert insights and real-life experiences, we aim to empower you with the knowledge and compassion required to supply your paralyzed pet with the perfect possible quality of life while ensuring that you just, too, receive the self-care and support you wish on this remarkable journey.
Expect to Make Changes Around the House
When you first bring a paralyzed pet home, you might want to have a look at your own home with a fresh set of eyes. You have to ask yourself two things: is my pet secure, and have they got easy accessibility to all the things they need? Here are a few things to pay attention to:
- Crate rest – Often the very first thing your vet will recommend. Crate rest is very necessary in the course of the healing process or before/after surgery. It’s crucial that you just follow your veterinarian’s instructions and limit your dog’s mobility until given the go-ahead to maneuver around freely.
- Pet gates – Just because your dog can’t manage the steps safely, doesn’t mean your dog knows it’s unsafe. You may have to limit your dog’s access to certain areas of the home, including stairs. A pet gate is a great technique to contain your dog’s movements and keep them near you where you possibly can regulate them.
- Padded bedding – Many paralyzed dogs will spend a lot more downtime on the ground. A padded surface acts as a protective barrier between your dog’s joints and the hard floor. Many paralyzed pets may not find a way to shift themselves easily to seek out a more comfortable position, which suggests spending prolonged time on their side. They may have your help to reposition them every few hours to assist prevent pressure sores from forming.
- Access to food and water – Make sure your dog at all times has access to water bowls. They may not find a way to stand up and walk across the room to get a drink. Also, keeping your dog hydrated could make it less likely for them to develop urinary tract infections, which suggests your dog will need their water refilled repeatedly. More hydration also means more frequent potty trips are needed!
What They May Not Tell You About Bathroom Breaks
Caring for a newly paralyzed pet also means paying a lot of attention to their bathroom needs. Many paralyzed dogs are incontinent, this will mean that your dog must wear a diaper and even need your help to manually express their bladder or bowel. Here are a few things to pay attention to about your paralyzed dog’s bathroom needs:
How again and again a day does a paralyzed dog have to go outside?
A drag bag is a great technique to protect your dog’s legs and chest from scrapes & rug burns.
There isn’t a single correct answer to this query. Every dog’s potty needs are different. Many experts say that almost all paralyzed dogs might want to go outside no less than thrice a day. But it’s quite common for a dog to wish to alleviate themselves as many as 4 or five times a day. More frequent bathroom breaks will help to avoid accidents.
Getting your dog outside quickly will be a challenge too! Check along with your vet first, but using a dog wheelchair or easy lifting harness are great ways to get your dog up and outside when it’s time for them go.
Hygiene is vital
When caring for a paralyzed dog, there shall be extra cleanup. Accidents do occur, which suggests numerous baths! For dogs wearing a diaper, hygiene is incredibly necessary. Diaper changes have to occur ceaselessly; your pet’s skin will be incredibly sensitive. Regular diaper changes help to maintain your dog comfortable and dry. While also helping them to avoid painful urine burns.
Dogs that drag themselves on the ground can scrape themselves pretty easily. A drag bag is a great technique to protect your dog’s sensitive skin and create a secure way for them to scoot around without hurting themselves. For incontinent pets, the drag bag is product of water-resistant material and will be worn with a diaper.
You Need to Take Care of Yourself Too!
As rewarding as it might be to care for a paralyzed pet, at times, it might even be overwhelming and exhausting for their primary caregiver. It’s easy to burn out, so remember to care for yourself too. Take time to recharge yourself. Even five minutes of quiet meditation or fresh air can go a great distance. There’s truth to what they are saying on airplanes, “put on your own oxygen mask before you help others around you.”
This includes getting a good night’s sleep. When dog mom, Tyme Powell’s pup Gravy was first paralyzed, sleep was the very first thing she and her partner sacrificed. Tyme says, “In the beginning, we slept on the floor or couch with him in the living room for a couple of months so he wouldn’t fall off the bed, and we were barely sleeping at all. Finally, our physical therapist told us, ‘Oh, no, you are totally fine to sleep through the night. He’ll be fine,’ so that was when we started trying other things. It’s just so unclear in the beginning what can and can’t be done.”
You can’t fully be there for your dog when you’re not rested and taking good care of yourself. There’s nothing selfish about giving yourself permission to have a good night’s rest.
Conclusion
Caring for a paralyzed pet is undeniably demanding, but it’s also a truly rewarding experience. By providing unwavering love and support, you possibly can make a profound difference in your pet’s life. Remember that searching for guidance from veterinarians and learning from the experiences of fellow pet owners will be invaluable. Furthermore, don’t overlook the importance of self-care. Just as you provide comfort and care for your pet, taking good care of your individual well-being is crucial. By navigating this path with empathy, patience, and dedication, you possibly can be sure that your paralyzed pet enjoys a fulfilling life, and together, you’ll create enduring memories of resilience, love, and triumph.
